Majnu Ka Laila ki Maa ko Jawaab- Akbar Allahabadi
I was told by a friend that perhaps I should revive this blog. I am always a sucker for advice, good or bad. Hence here this goes
About the Poet: Akbar Hussain 'Akbar Allahabadi' (1846-1921) is Urdu's pre-eminent humorous poet- what mushaira goers would call a 'mazaahiya shayar'. However humour for Akbar was not about mere ribaldry and semi obscene jokes. His biting satire castigated one and all and nothing ever escaped his attention. Exceedingly unorthodox in his poetry, he stands almost alone in using popular English words in his works.
In his professional life he served as a District Sessions Judge before retiring for health reasons. Personal tragedies blighted much of his later life and reduced his output substantially. Akbar's brilliant use of metaphor is on display in this poem. While superficially the poem resembles a limerick, it actually laments the regrettable distaste that Indian Muslims displayed for modern Western education. The language used is simple and easily understandable. I shall therefore restrict myself to translating a few words here and there.
Kaha Majnu se ye Laila ki Maa ne,
Ki Beta tu agar kar le M.A pass,
To fauran byaah doon Laila ko tujh se,
Bila diqqat main ban jaaun teri saas (bila diqqat- without any issues)
Kaha Majnu ne: Yeh achchi sunaai!!
Kuja aashiq, kuja college ki bakwaas? (kuja-where/kahaan)
Kuja ye fitrati josh-e-tabiyat (Love is by nature spontaneous and unrestrained!)
Kuja thaunsi hui cheezon ka ehsaas! (Where do you bring in this stuffed learning by rote?)
Bari bee, aapko kya ho gaya hai?
Hiran pe laadi jaati hai kahin ghaas?
Ye achchi qadardaani aapne ki! (qadardaani- (here) well judged worth)
Mujhe samjha hai koi Harcharan Dass?!
Dil apna khoon karne ko hoon maujood (The blood of my heart can be readily shed!)
Nahin manzoor maghaz-e-sar ka aamas (This cudgelling of the brain is sadly too much to ask!)
Yeh thahri jo shart-e-wasal-e-Laila (If this be the condition for the consummation of my love)
To istifaa mera ba hasrat-o-yaas! (Here's my resignation-regretfully and with a sense of loss!)
